Construction of gas-generating apparatus.



1. MW. MORRIS.

CONSTRUCTION OF GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

I APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31 I917. 11,277,457,

Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

JOHN MOVICKER MORRIS, 0F MAYFAIR, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO TREDEGARS LIMITED, OF ll/IAY FAIR, ENGLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

Application filed January 31, 1917. Serial No. 145,750.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MCVIOKER MORRIS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 7 Brook street, Mayfair, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Gas-Generating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of gas generating apparatus, more especially intended for the production of acetylene gas. The invention provides a simple and convenient construction of generator of the water displacement type adapted for domestic lighting and other purposes where a compact and easily manipulated generator is required.

According to this invention the gas generator and sludge bucket are combined in one closed gas vessel, placed for' generating purposes in an outer water tank and so constructed that on raising the gas vessel or bucket in its closed condition the water in the bucket is lowered below the carbid holder or basket so that further generation of gas ceases. In the construction preferred the bucket is provided with means by which it may be supported in the tank in a raised position with the water clear of the carbid, such means consisting conveniently of a strong hook on one side of the bucket adapted to hook over the edge of the water tank.

I The carbid basket is preferably made with a rounded bottom and is so constructed that,

the wires or strips from which it is made do not cross at the center, leaving a clear central space for the sludge to fall through, to avoid danger of such an accumulation at the points of crossing of the wires that the basket becomes choked.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, we will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which t Figure 1 is a vertical section of a complete generator constructed according to this invention and Fig. 2 is a plan of the carbid basket.

A is the water tank, shown with an open top. B is the bucket, the lower part of which receives the sludge while the upper part is closed by the cover 6 so that the bucket serves also as the gas generating vessel. C is the basket mounted on the lower end of the cylinder 0 and inside the stand 0.

The top of the cylinder 0 is closed by the hinged cover 0 which is raised when the carbid is to be inserted. A handle 0 allows the basket G to be removed from the bucket B, the basket being supported at the upper end of the bucket by the lugs 0 which rest on a shoulder in the bucket rim Z). An air cock. is fitted in the opening 6 of the cover Z) and in the opening 6 of the cover an outlet cock is fitted leading to the gas burner. The cover 6 is formed with the channeled rim or lip 6 which fits over the upper edge of the rim 6. The cover 6 is secured firmly on top of the bucket by means of the cross 'bar D the ends of which engage the lugs b at each side of the rim 6, a screw d passing through the central boss in the bar D and engaging at its lower end with the cover Z). A notched disk cl secured by the nut 0Z on the upper end of the screw 01 allows the screw to be turned so as to raise or lower the cover I). The bar D is detachable from the lugs b so that the cover Z2 can be removed and the carbid holder reached.

end so that the water is trapped in the bucket at the level of this aperture. raising the bucket the water above the aperture is allowed to flow gently out into the tank A until the level is below that of the basket C so that the carbid is no longer supplied with water for generating purposes. Also if pressure is generated in the bucket the gas can drive the water out of the bucket down to the levelof the aperture, the water rising again to attack the carbid as soon as the pressure is relieved. The bucket pro vides a considerable space below the aperture, so that a large quantity of sludge may be collected before it is necessary to empty the bucket. The restricted passage between the interior of the bucket and the tank A, formed by the apertures b and b and the channeled plate I)", prevents any sudden rush of water into the bucket or splashing out therefrom on lifting out the bucket.

The bucket is lifted by a handle secured to the lugs 6 and for convenience in supporting it in the tank A with the carbid seriously above the water level a strong "hook E,'consisting of a bent iron strip, is fitted to the side of the bucket about the middle so that carbid -basket having. of course already been removed.

The Gttlbltl basket C 1s oi special construction ililltbfOllllS a feature of considerable-practical importance. In using carbid in dumps of "substantial size it has been found that with baskets of ordinary construction, where wi'rescross-not onl'y aklong the sides'but also across the bottom oi' -the basket, the carbid is frequently retained owing to the numerous corners, some of which formacute angles, 'and the clogging at thebottom where the sludge" collects at the pointsoi crossing of the wires, The regularity of aclzioirof the generator is-thus interfered with and substantial Waste of car-bid frequently incurred. Pliis irregular y of action is a greatdisadvantage especially in uses \vhere thew-gas is W'lthCllMt Dnt a substantial and as nearas possible constant-rate.

In" the improved basket illustrated the sides are composed entirely of vertical Wires or strips without any connecting horizontal wires and the vertical wires of one set are continued around to' forum a rounded or hemispherical bottom while the remaining set c-are merely brought up to theachacent I rounded wiresat0 so as to leave thebottonr entirely clear of corners-which might collect the disintegrating carbid and check the descent of the fresh carbid toward the "Water. A; shortleng'th of'wire c is usedto connect "the bottom wiresat each side and 'Well away from the center. "Suclrwiresvirtually'form the continuation of four vertical WlI'GS'l'JIli; these are replaced in the construction illustratedby the vertical rods" ot the stand O'iWlllCll heat the corners between the two sets or vertical Wires fori'ningt'he body of the basket. The acute angled corners which would be formed by continuingthe cross wires 0 into the sides of the basket are thus avoided. The Wiresc and c are se cured at their upper ends to-the upper ring 0 of the stand 0 The wires at thepoints Copies-of this patent may be obtainffor of junction are preferably welded together to form a strong construction Which is not attacked at the corners by chemical action due to ithe gas generating materials.

It will be seen that owing to the special formation of the basket, with its rounded bottom and absence of corners near the lowest point, the carbid cannot be checked in its gradual descend by any obstructive action due to corners at which material may collect, since at all points there is a free passage downward and the few corners which are formed are at points well. above the bottom so that thecarbid or sludge is directeddownward and-does not tend to collect at such corners. f i

h-at I claimanddesire to secure by Let iGI'SiPZXtOHhOTE the United States is 1. In a gas generating apparatus of water displacement type, a water tank, a elo'sedgas vessel having a water admission and release aperture situated some distance above the bottom so as to form a sludge bucket, a

cover detac-hably secured to the said vessel at theupper end thereof and having a gas outlet, a 'carbid basket suspended in the said vessel abovethe water aperture and a retaining device on:the outside of the vessel adapted to engage the-said. tank and sus- 1 pend the vessel; when the latter is raised into inoperative position. 1

1-2; -Inva gas generating. apparatusiof water displacement type, a Water-tank; a closed; gas vessel h wring awater admission and release passage extending from the bottom 2- to some distance above the lat-terso as to form a :slutlge 'bueket,-a .cover detachably secured to tlie' sairl vessel at the upper 5 endthereof and hav inga gas eutlet; a rcarb'id basket'suspended 5 hr the said vessel above the upper end of saidpassage -and ahook fixed on the "outsidebf the vessel about the middle and adapted-to engage on the edgeof the tank to suspenu the generator in raised position.

'3. A carbid basket for use i'n a gas generator comprising stand composed of verti'cal rodsan d connecting -rings,' a seriesiof wires secured at theirupper ends to the-top of the said" stand and bent around to form vertical" side's' an'dfl a ,POUIidGCl" bottom, and a second series of wires3alsosecurcdattheir upper endstofthe stand; "coinple'tingthe verti cal sides and secured at their lower ends to the*first series without crossing at'the bottom of the basket. p r

JOHN MGVICKER MORRIS.

"meninges, r. c. e 

